Circle of Women 'Give' to Help Homeless

Originally published on Saturday, June 25, 2011 in the Saturday Extra category.

Circle of women 'give' to help homeless

By Bill Kirby Jr.

Columnist
 
Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch, Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network and Grace & Mercy House are recipients of grants totaling nearly $50,000 from the Women’s Giving Circle of Fayetteville. Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch received $25,000 for its Frink Street Transformation Project, which focuses on renovation of a house for homeless women and children. Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network received $15,000 to support the security fencing project aimed at protecting homeless women and children who participate in the Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network program and Ashton Wood Transitional Housing. The grant, according to Susan Barnes, the Women’s Giving Circle coordinator, will be matched with funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Grace & Mercy House was awarded $9,340 for support services to homeless women and children. The Women’s Giving Circle has given $125,340 in grants to local nonprofit organizations since 2008..

Power of the Purse Event Information

The Power of the Purse

 

Luncheon:Thursday Sept. 8 at 11:30 am.
Our guest speaker:
UNC Basketball Coach Roy Williams

 
As WGC members, you will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets, but the window will be short as the event is quickly approaching. Tickets are priced at $75 each. Watch your inbox for the upcoming ticket purchase details!!!

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Our Women’s Giving Circle was formed just over three years ago, and we have more than 130 members with diverse backgrounds, activities, and accomplishments.  Our common bonds are our interests in philanthropy and our desire to advance our community.  Each newsletter will continue to spotlight one or more WGC members, and this month Margaret Dickson and Tammy Laurence, our new co-chairs, are our focus.

  

Margaret Dickson is a native of Fayetteville and spent most of her working career in her family business, Cape Fear Broadcasting Company.  When the business was sold in 2001, she ran for the North Carolina House of Representatives where she served 7 years and was then appointed to the state Senate to complete an unexpired term. 

Margaret is proud of our community and has served on the boards of a number of local organizations, including the Cumberland Community Foundation, the Cumberland County Education Foundation, the Fayetteville State University Foundation, the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce, which presented her its Athena Award in 2007.  She is a founding member of the Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County.  Margaret is the mother of three young adults and is blessed with a lovely daughter in law.

Margaret encourages women to participate in community life, particularly political participation, and believe that the WGCCC fills an important need.  She says she looks forward to working with the membership to grow our organization in the coming year. 

Tammy Laurence believes you can tell a lot about a person based on bumper stickers and personalized license plates- her license plate says “Kids First.”   She says, “If you want to know the health of a community, look at how it cares for the kids.”  She believes Fayetteville is a wonderful community for children and families, and after many travels as a military spouse is glad to call Fayetteville home.  
 
Tammy is the mother of three grown children and two adorable grandsons, and has spent over twenty-five years working to better children’s lives. Formerly the executive director for the local Child Advocacy Center, and prior to settling in Fayetteville, she was the executive director for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program for Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in New York. Her work for military children was recognized when she received the Novella Gibson Whitehead award for spearheading efforts to pass legislation to provide the WIC program overseas for military families, and ensured that the program was implemented.
   
Currently Tammy is the president of NP Soar LLC, a consulting firm specializing in capacity building for nonprofits. She is a member of the International Association for Fundraising Professionals, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Triangle, and several local professional associations. 

Each One Reach One

Each One Reach One

In our last newsletter we wrote about our membership drive entitled Each One Reach One.  The idea being that we could double our membership and our giving if each member would bring in one new member.

As an incentive to get you to ask a friend to join us, we have a special treat associated with the Power of the Purse Event.

Every member that gets a new member (and also purchases a ticket) prior to the event will have the opportunity to meet and have your picture taken with Roy Williams.

You can call Susan Barnes at: 910-483-4449 or Denise Lynch at 910-481-8562
Or email them at:
      Susan Barnes susan@cumberlandcf.org
       Denise Lynch  denise.lynch@mssb.com
 

2011/12 Slate of Officers and Updates

1.    2011 – 2012 Slate of Officers

Co-Chairs:                                      Tammy Laurence and Margaret Dickson

Vice Co-Chairs:                              Patty Collie and Jean Harrison

Secretary:                                        Lisa Lofthouse

Asst.  Secretary:                             Ann Ashford

Treasurer:                                       Linda Goff                 

Asst: Treasurer:                              Lynn Deveaux

2.    The approval of the addition to the by-laws of the following policies: Funds received by the WGC as matching contributions will be distributed according to the preference of the member/organization (endowment fund, grant fund, etc.)  If she has no preference, then the money will be distributed according to the standard breakdown ($400 to grants,$100 to endowment, $50 to administrative expenses).    Funds received by the WGC as a donation by a non-member or a “friend” will be distributed to the endowment fund. 

3.    A name change from the Women’s Giving Circle of Fayetteville to the Women’s Giving Circle of Cumberland County.

Press Release in Fayetteville Observer: Grants 2011

Published: 12:00 AM, Sun Jun 19, 2011

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/06/19/1102551?sac=Local 

 

Women's Giving Circle awards grants to help homeless women, children

The Women's Giving Circle of Fayetteville has chosen three organizations to receive grants totaling $49,340 to help homeless women and children.

Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch will receive $25,000 for its Frink Street Transformation Project. A home will be renovated for homeless women who will be selected for character, work ethic and desire to improve their lives. The project will increase housing for women and children.

Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network is awarded $15,000 to support the security fencing project. The program helps provide a safe and secure environment for homeless women and children who participate in the Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network program and Ashton Woods Transitional Housing. The money will be matched 2-to-1 by a grant from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Grace & Mercy House Inc. will get $9,340. The program helps prepare women to get back on their feet and be independent.

In the past three years, the Giving Circle has awarded a total of $125,340 to nonprofits in Cumberland County for the benefit of women and children. The organization has grown to more than 130 women who seek to make substantial, positive changes for women and children through philanthropy and education. Funding is held and maintained by Cumberland Community Foundation.